Cost of Living in San Diego, CA
| Cost of Living in San Diego, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 8% higher | 112% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 10% higher | 48% higher |
| Food | 2% lower | 11% higher |
| Healthcare | 6% lower | 2% higher |
| Transportation | 9% higher | 42% higher |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | 15% higher |
The cost of living in San Diego, CA is 4% higher than the state average and 46% higher than the national average. San Diego, CA housing is 112% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 48% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 11% pricier in San Diego, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 15% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 2% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 15% pricier in San Diego, CA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in San Diego is $2,968, while home prices circle around $1,141,585.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In San Diego, energy bills cost around $377.76 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $5.11 in San Diego, a dozen eggs go for around $3.63 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.50.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In San Diego, an optometry check-up costs around $141.13, while a dentist appointment is priced $124.45 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.78 in San Diego, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $81.93.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $38.90 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $36.71.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in San Diego, you should budget around $16.92 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.25, while dry cleaning costs about $21.63.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In San Diego, the median household income is $104,321.